History Main / AffablyEvil

->''"This is very embarrassing. It seems there is a red box in your car. They can't get to it. They want ''me'' to make ''you'' unlock the car! I feel like an idiot. I don't know what to say... I am to torture you if you don't do it."''

Traditional villains are evil in thought, word, and deed. They KickTheDog every day, just because [[ItAmusedMe they think it's funny]], [[LackOfEmpathy they can't sympathize with the pain of others]], and/or [[KnightTemplar they think suffering is justified when it serves their cause]]. Alternatively, they may simply be too [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness inscrutable]] and/or [[EldritchAbomination inhuman]] to inspire anything but dread.

Then there's these guys. There's nothing separating Alice from an ordinary nice person (except that she wants to use an infant's soul to power her Doomsday Machine so she can TakeOverTheWorld). And you'd never know it, because you only see her when she invites all the neighbors over for a barbecue in her backyard. A less-developed villain would be the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing -- but she's not: Alice's good humor is a genuine part of her personality. She's the very opposite of [[GoodIsNotNice Charlie]]: she's so thoroughly dedicated to Evil that she can be pleasant and kind in her daily life without any risk of slipping to the other side. Alice would KickTheDog she just petted if it got her closer to her goals, but she won't do evil [[FortheEvulz just for evil's sake]]. She's devoted to her family, [[BenevolentBoss fair to her employees]], and she [[VillainWithGoodPublicity enjoys a good reputation in the community]], because being anti-society doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

Whether an Affably Evil villain is [[ALighterShadeOfBlack less scary]] than the traditional type depends on how the work wants to play it. They can be more relatable and sympathetic than a traditional monster (especially if the work has a 'real' villain as well), and are often used in works intended for children to provide an antagonist [[ButNotTooEvil without having them be too evil or scary]]. Conversely, they can be ''much'' worse: there's something inherently terrifying about [[TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse an ordinary, even pleasant person]] doing horrible things. They are usually WickedCultured, charismatic [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]]. Comedic types act TooFunnyToBeEvil, but serious types are the WellIntentionedExtremist who truly [[TautologicalTemplar believes that they are right]]. More often than not, they are a form of AntiVillain because a straight villain wouldn't easily be so genuinely good-natured. EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor is not true for them, and their affability even makes them easy to "compliment" with an InsultBackfire. Captives of such a villain won't be thrown in dungeons, but 'hosted graciously' in a GildedCage. Even an outright psychopath can be charismatic and funny enough to fit this trope, or at least to convincingly waver between true [[FauxAffablyEvil and false friendliness]], since the contrast is explained by their mental instability.

* FauxAffablyEvil: An evil character who merely ''acts'' nice. The Affably Evil character will often serve as TheDragon, [[EvilMinions Evil Minion]], or {{Foil}} to this type of villain.

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%% Trope was declared Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease via crowner by the Real Life Maintenance thread.

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%% Do not change image. --Admin message.

[[quoteright:249:[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/affably_evil_7.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:249:The Mayor of Sunnydale.\\
[[BreadEggsMilkSquick Jovial. Fatherly. Wants to be a giant snake demon.]]]]

If this trope gets exaggerated, Alice will [[GoKartingWithBowser invite Bob the hero out for an afternoon on the lake]], [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine offer him]] a [[YourFavorite favorite dish]], talk to him like he's an old friend, try to appeal to Bob's better nature and convince him that [[EvilPlan her plan for the world]] is a cause [[WeCanRuleTogether worth joining]]. Of course, a villain is still a villain, and Alice has no use for Bob if he won't change his mind. It may or may not involve a DeathTrap, depending on how nice she ''really'' is when crossed. And Bob would have every reason to be nervous if she [[VillainOverForDinner invites his mother over for tea]] instead...

Whether an Affably Evil villain is [[ALighterShadeOfBlack less scary]] than the traditional type depends on how the work wants to play it. They can be more relatable and sympathetic than a traditional monster (especially if the work has a 'real' villain as well), and are often used in works intended for children to provide an antagonist [[ButNotTooEvil without having them be too evil or scary]]. Conversely, they can be ''much'' worse: there's something inherently terrifying about [[TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse an ordinary, even decent person]] with a pleasant personality doing horrible things. They are usually WickedCultured, charismatic [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]]. They are sometimes comedic or a WellIntentionedExtremist who really [[TautologicalTemplar believes that they are right]]. More often than not, they are a form of AntiVillain because a straight villain wouldn't easily be so genuinely good-natured. EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor is not true for them, and their affability even makes them easy to "compliment" with an InsultBackfire. Captives of an affably evil villain won't be kept in dungeons, but in a GildedCage. Even an outright psychopath can be charismatic and funny enough to fit this trope, or at least to convincingly waver between true [[FauxAffablyEvil and false friendliness]], since the contrast is explained by their mental instability.

GoodIsNotNice is the InvertedTrope, and such good guys are particularly good at giving the Affably Evil a proverbial punch in the nose. When both GoodIsNotNice and Affably Evil are used, you may end up with PoliteVillainsRudeHeroes, but if done poorly, you might get a case of JerksAreWorseThanVillains, where the audience hates the heroes for being jerks more than the villain. ImNotHungry is often dealing with this villain. A villain will sometimes engage in TooFunnyToBeEvil to achieve this effect. NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine is a subtrope in many instances.

%% Do not change image. --Admin messsage.

[[quoteright:250:[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/affably_evil_7.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:250:The Mayor of Sunnydale.\\

[[quoteright:250:[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/affably_evil.png]]]]

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%% This trope is represented in the Pantheon/TropePantheons by Lucifer of ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'', in the House of Pantheon/{{Ambiguity}}.
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Whether an Affably Evil villain is [[ALighterShadeOfBlack less scary]] than the traditional type depends on how the work wants to play it. They can be more relatable and sympathetic than [[EvilVersusEvil a traditional monster]], especially if the work has a 'real' villain as well. Conversely, they can be ''much'' worse: there's something inherently terrifying about [[TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse an ordinary, even decent person]] with a pleasant personality doing horrible things. They are usually WickedCultured, charismatic [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]]. They are sometimes comedic or a WellIntentionedExtremist who really [[TautologicalTemplar believes that they are right]]. More often than not, they are a form of AntiVillain because a straight villain wouldn't easily be so genuinely good-natured. EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor is not true for them, and their affability even makes them easy to "compliment" with an InsultBackfire. Captives of an affably evil villain won't be kept in dungeons, but in a GildedCage. Even an outright psychopath can be charismatic and funny enough to fit this trope, or at least to convincingly waver between true [[FauxAffablyEvil and false friendliness]], since the contrast is explained by their mental instability.

* JerkassToOne: A character, not necessarily villainous, who is a NiceGuy expect to certain people.

Whether an Affably Evil villain is [[ALighterShadeOfBlack less scary]] than the traditional type depends on how the work wants to play it. They can be more relatable and sympathetic than [[EvilVersusEvil a traditional monster]], especially if the work has a 'real' villain as well. Conversely, they can be ''much'' worse: there's something terrifying about [[TheyLookJustLikeEveryoneElse an ordinary person]] doing horrible things. They are usually WickedCultured, charismatic [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]]. They are sometimes comedic or a WellIntentionedExtremist who really [[TautologicalTemplar believes that they are right]]. More often than not, they are a form of AntiVillain because a straight villain wouldn't easily be so genuinely good-natured. EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor is not true for them, and their affability even makes them easy to "compliment" with an InsultBackfire. Captives of an affably evil villain won't be kept in dungeons, but in a GildedCage. Even an outright psychopath can be charismatic and funny enough to fit this trope, or at least to convincingly waver between true [[FauxAffablyEvil and false friendliness]], since the contrast is explained by their mental instability.

If this trope gets exaggerated, Alice will [[GoKartingWithBowser invite Bob the hero out for an afternoon on the lake]], [[NoMrBondIExpectYouToDine offer him]] a [[YourFavorite favorite dish]], talk to him like he's an old friend, try to appeal to Bob's better nature and convince him that [[EvilPlan her plan for the world]] is a cause [[WeCanRuleTogether worth joining]]. Of course, a villain is still a villain, and Alice has no use for Bob if he won't change his mind. It may or may not involve a DeathTrap, depending on how nice she ''really'' is when crossed. Of course, inviting [[VillainOverForDinner Bob's mother over for tea]] might send a stronger message...

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: A character with no corrupting qualities. They ''cannot'' be evil; they are truly as good as their demeanor would suggest.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Evil characters who seem nice until they reveal their true colors -- Affably Evil characters are just as nice as they seem.
* CompleteMonster: A character with no redeeming qualities. They ''cannot'' be nice, though they might be able to [[FauxAffablyEvil fake it]].

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: A character with no corrupting qualities. They ''cannot'' be villains, even if they are nice to the point of appearing Affably Evil.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: Evil characters who seem nice until they reveal their true colors -- Affably Evil characters are genuinely nice.
* CompleteMonster: A character with no redeeming qualities ''cannot'' be nice, though they might be able to [[FauxAffablyEvil fake it]].

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: A character with no corrupting qualities. They ''cannot'' be villains, even if they are nice to the point of appearing AffablyEvil.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: The character hides a more sinister side behind a nice façade -- unlike them, Affably Evil characters are genuinely nice.
* CompleteMonster: A character with no redeeming qualities. They are 0% nice and therefore '''cannot''' be affably evil in any sense (though they may be FauxAffablyEvil).

* IncorruptiblePurePureness: A character with no corrupting qualities. They are 0% mean and yet '''cannot''' be affably evil in any sense (though they may be {{Nice Guy}}s).

Whether an Affably Evil villain is [[ALighterShadeOfBlack less scary]] than the traditional type depends on how the work wants to play it. They can be more relatable and sympathetic than [[EvilVersusEvil a traditional monster]], especially if the work has a 'real' villain as well. Conversely, they can be ''much'' worse: there's something terrifying about a nice person doing horrible things. They are usually WickedCultured, charismatic [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]]. They are sometimes comedic or a WellIntentionedExtremist who really [[TautologicalTemplar believes that they are right]]. More often than not, they are a form of AntiVillain because a straight villain wouldn't easily be so genuinely good-natured. EvilHasABadSenseOfHumor is not true for them, and their affability even makes them easy to "compliment" with an InsultBackfire. Captives of an affably evil villain won't be kept in dungeons, but in a GildedCage. Even an outright psychopath can be charismatic and funny enough to fit this trope, or at least to convincingly waver between true [[FauxAffablyEvil and false friendliness]], since the contrast is explained by their mental instability.

Then there's these guys. There's nothing separating Alice from an ordinary nice person (except that she wants to use an infant's soul to power her Doomsday Machine so she can TakeOverTheWorld). And you'd never know it, because you only see her when she invites all the neighbors over for a barbecue in her backyard. A less-developed villain would be the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing -- but she's not: Alice's good humor is a genuine part of her personality. She's the very opposite of [[GoodIsNotNice Bob]]: she's so thoroughly dedicated to Evil that she can be pleasant and kind in her daily life without any risk of slipping to the other side. Alice would KickTheDog she just petted if it got her closer to her goals, but she won't do evil [[FortheEvulz just for evil's sake]]. She's devoted to her family, [[BenevolentBoss fair to her employees]], and she [[VillainWithGoodPublicity enjoys a good reputation in the community]], because being anti-society doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

Then there's these guys. There's nothing separating Alice from an ordinary nice person (except that she wants to use an infant's soul to power her Doomsday Machine so she can TakeOverTheWorld). And you'd never know it, because you only see her when she invites all the neighbors over for a barbecue in her backyard. A less-developed villain would be the StepfordSmiler or the BitchInSheepsClothing -- but she's not: Alice's good humor is a genuine part of her personality. She's the very opposite of an AntiHero: she's so thoroughly dedicated to Evil that she can be pleasant and kind in her daily life without any risk of slipping to the other side. Alice would KickTheDog she just petted if it got her closer to her goals, but she won't do evil [[FortheEvulz just for evil's sake]]. She's devoted to her family, [[BenevolentBoss fair to her employees]], and she [[VillainWithGoodPublicity enjoys a good reputation in the community]], because being anti-society doesn't mean you have to be ''anti-social''.

->''"This is very embarrassing. It seems there is a red box in your car. They can’t get to it. They want ''me'' to make ''you'' unlock the car! I feel like an idiot. I don’t know what to say... I am to torture you if you don’t do it."''

Traditional villains are evil in thought, word, and deed. They KickTheDog every day, just because [[ItAmusedMe they think it's funny]], [[{{Jerkass}} they can't sympathize with the pain of others]], and/or [[KnightTemplar they think suffering is justified when it serves their cause]]. Alternatively, they may simply be too [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness inscrutable]] and/or [[EldritchAbomination inhuman]] to inspire anything but dread.